"Hop-Frog..." - читать интересную книгу автора (Poe Edgar Allan)

But although Hop-Frog, through the distortion of his legs, could
move only with great pain and difficulty along a road or floor, the
prodigious muscular power which nature seemed to have bestowed upon
his arms, by way of compensation for deficiency in the lower limbs,
enabled him to perform many feats of wonderful dexterity, where
trees or ropes were in question, or any thing else to climb. At such
exercises he certainly much more resembled a squirrel, or a small
monkey, than a frog.
I am not able to say, with precision, from what country Hop-Frog
originally came. It was from some barbarous region, however, that no
person ever heard of- a vast distance from the court of our king.
Hop-Frog, and a young girl very little less dwarfish than himself
(although of exquisite proportions, and a marvellous dancer), had been
forcibly carried off from their respective homes in adjoining
provinces, and sent as presents to the king, by one of his
ever-victorious generals.
Under these circumstances, it is not to be wondered at that a
close intimacy arose between the two little captives. Indeed, they
soon became sworn friends. Hop-Frog, who, although he made a great
deal of sport, was by no means popular, had it not in his power to
render Trippetta many services; but she, on account of her grace and
exquisite beauty (although a dwarf), was universally admired and
petted; so she possessed much influence; and never failed to use it,
whenever she could, for the benefit of Hop-Frog.
On some grand state occasion- I forgot what- the king determined
to have a masquerade, and whenever a masquerade or any thing of that
kind, occurred at our court, then the talents, both of Hop-Frog and
Trippetta were sure to be called into play. Hop-Frog, in especial, was
so inventive in the way of getting up pageants, suggesting novel
characters, and arranging costumes, for masked balls, that nothing
could be done, it seems, without his assistance.
The night appointed for the fete had arrived. A gorgeous hall had
been fitted up, under Trippetta's eye, with every kind of device which
could possibly give eclat to a masquerade. The whole court was in a
fever of expectation. As for costumes and characters, it might well be
supposed that everybody had come to a decision on such points. Many
had made up their minds (as to what roles they should assume) a
week, or even a month, in advance; and, in fact, there was not a
particle of indecision anywhere- except in the case of the king and
his seven minsters. Why they hesitated I never could tell, unless they
did it by way of a joke. More probably, they found it difficult, on
account of being so fat, to make up their minds. At all events, time
flew; and, as a last resort they sent for Trippetta and Hop-Frog.
When the two little friends obeyed the summons of the king they
found him sitting at his wine with the seven members of his cabinet
council; but the monarch appeared to be in a very ill humor. He knew
that Hop-Frog was not fond of wine, for it excited the poor cripple
almost to madness; and madness is no comfortable feeling. But the king
loved his practical jokes, and took pleasure in forcing Hop-Frog to
drink and (as the king called it) 'to be merry.'